MVS Pet Care becomes nation's first house call veterinarian franchiseFebruary 2, 2018A business team and a house call veterinarian have partnered to launch Mobile Veterinary Services (MVS) Pet Care, the nation's first professional franchise network of house call veterinarians. MVS Pet Care offers general wellness care, vaccinations, and illness and injury care, as well as hospice care and in-home euthanasia. In addition to solving the longstanding problem for some owners of rustling up reluctant pets for the journey to the veterinary clinic, MVS Pet Care also provides veterinarians with new business opportunities. "Previously, upon earning their degrees, veterinarians' options were limited to either working in a vet's office or animal hospital, or starting their own brick-and-mortar practice, which is tough," said Todd Giatrelis, co-founder and CEO. "They're typically overworked and underpaid. With MVS Pet Care, they can get into business with significantly lower entry costs than a brick-and-mortar practice. They'll receive training and support, scheduling software and access to unmatched pricing for equipment and supplies through partnerships we've cemented with national pharmaceutical, diagnostic labs and supply companies." The mobile pet care franchise was developed by Giatrelis, Sarah Towne (president), and Ashley Shimabukuro (COO), whose previous franchises include Flip Flop Shops and Sugar Plum Parties, a themed children's party concept. Partnering …
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Disinfection protocols: A clean startJanuary 24, 2018The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your disinfection protocols. Disinfection is vital to prevent the spread of infectious disease, but often, veterinary staff are either unaware or confused about proper sanitation.
Profession trends: E-myth part IIIJanuary 22, 2018I spoke with Michael Gerber, management guru and best-selling author of The E-Myth Revisited and the E-Myth book collection, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, who co-wrote The E-Myth Veterinarian with Gerber. We talked about big trends in our profession such as corporate medicine and school debt.
How veterinarians cope with patient deathJanuary 22, 2018Every veterinarian experiences occasional complications, sad outcomes, or patient deaths, but some have developed coping skills and strategies that help them manage the emotional impact and learn and grow from these events, according to a study authored by Sara White, DVM, MSc. The study will appear in the February 2018 issue of the journal Anthrozoös. The study questioned 32 shelter and spay-neuter veterinarians about their experiences, thoughts, and reactions as they coped with life-threatening complications or death related to spay-neuter. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns in the responses of veterinarians who were successful in coping with these adverse events. In the aftermath of a patient death or serious complication, veterinarians who were surveyed described feelings of guilt, sadness, anxiety, and self-doubt, and felt deep empathy for their clients. Some said they never recovered from the trauma of these events, while others were able to transform the incidents into learning experiences and opportunities for growth in their technical and emotional skills. The veterinarians who coped most effectively were those who were able to talk openly with colleagues about the events, and who were able to learn and improve protocols. Further, successful veterinarians had learned to place the loss into perspective, and had developed expertise in how to handle and support themselves through the event's …
Taking the fear out of anesthesiaJanuary 19, 2018During a checkup, you identify dental disease in a senior pet and explain the need for treatment. The pet owner declines care. In situations like this, veterinarians often blame price as the obstacle when fear of anesthesia may be the culprit.
What to do about growing stress in the veterinary professionJanuary 15, 2018Stress is an all-pervasive phenomenon in modern day societies and various professions, but the veterinary discipline suffers from the negative effects of stress and its sequelae at a troublingly disproportionate rate.
Are you protecting your passion for veterinary medicine?January 5, 2018 Compassion fatigue and burnout—everyone is talking about it. Try picking up any veterinary publication or attending any conference without seeing this subject appear at least once. There is a reason the subject is everywhere—it's because they are real and our colleagues are suffering. I wish to continue the conversation based on recent experiences. We've all seen the stats and certainly agree they are alarming. I do not claim to be an expert in these matters, but I have made the commitment to learn about it so that I can help my team and peers stay rooted in the passion that first brought them to the profession that they love. Veterinary professionals are kind, compassionate, and selfless people. It's a double-edged sword when that selflessness turns into fatigue and anxiety from pushing too hard, too long without enough self-care. I recently participated in a six-week online course called Compassion Fatigue RX. Hosted by Julie Squires, certified compassion fatigue specialist and certified life coach, this course was part of her efforts to help individuals and teams thrive in the midst of challenging and stressful work environments. I found this course to be an incredibly helpful and enlightening …
Securing a successful practice: E-myth part IIDecember 19, 2017I spoke with Michael Gerber, management guru and best-selling author of The E-Myth Revisited and the E-Myth book collection, and Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA executive director of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, who co-wrote The E-Myth Veterinarian with Gerber.
Henry Schein acquires eVetPracticeDecember 19, 2017Henry Schein Inc. has acquired eVetPractice, a provider of cloud-based practice management solutions to veterinary clinics. The company will join Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions. "As the veterinary practice management software market expands into cloud-based solutions, we at Henry Schein understand that partnering with eVetPractice enhances our ability to power successful practices by providing our customers with the latest in value-added services and technology solutions," said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein. "Our distribution footprint and comprehensive technology offerings, which now include the cloud, ensure that veterinary professionals can continue to rely on us as a trusted advisor, as we endeavor to help them operate more efficient and successful practices while delivering quality care." Based in Athens, Ga., and founded in 2011, eVetPractice serves approximately 900 customers. The company was founded by Eddie Heinz, who will join the HSVS executive team and continue to lead the eVetPractice solution and customer support teams. Henry Schein Veterinary Solutions has North American offices in Oshkosh, Wis., Piedmont, Mo., and Trevose, Pa. Henry Schein Animal Health is based in Dublin, Ohio.
Industry roundtable: Done domesticallyDecember 18, 2017Veterinary Practice News: Please share whether all or part of your company’s products are manufactured in the USA. Are they assembled here with foreign materials/components in part or in full, are they assembled here with U.S.-made components, or a mix of both?
